Time for a proper System of Training in sports to be established

Jan 10, 2009 Sports

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Dear Editor,
Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (1971) defines a system as an organised methodically arranged set of ideas, theories, or speculation. A system should encompass, in an organized whole, the experience accumulated over the years as well as pure and applied research findings.
A system should not be imported, although in order to develop one, it may be of great benefit to first study those of other countries. Furthermore, the creation or the development of a better system has to take into consideration a country’s social and cultural background. As far as a sports system is concerned, it should make reference to:
(1)    physical education and sports organisation of a nation, in which school programmes, recreation and sports clubs, and the organisational structure of sports governing bodies may be considered.
(2)    The systems of athletic training.
The organisation of a nation’s system should first define its goals and based on that should create its structure so that all the echelons and units are linked together in a solid and sequential setup.  The system should have pyramidal structure, with its base being formed by the mass of youngsters taking a part in physical education, and with the peak encompassing the high performance unit, which incorporates the nation’s athletic ambassadors.
A national sports system should system should consider its value and traditions, climatic conditions and the emphasis of those sports, especially for the young participants. Young people must develop the basic skills and abilities required to benefit from general physical instruction as well as to perform appropriately in most sports.
The latter refers to the emphasis placed on track and field for the merits of developing the basic skill required in most sports (running, jumping and throwing); swimming for life guard and an appropriate development of the cardio-respiratory functions and gymnastics for the virtue of evaluating balance and co-ordination. These three sports are part of the children’s general instruction in most of the European countries, especially in Russia, Germany, and Romania.
The creation of training system for a sport may stem from the general knowledge in the theory and methodology of training, scientific, findings, the experience of the nation’s best coaches, and the approach utilized in other countries. The highlights of the development of a training system should be the creation of a model of training, for both a short and long term approach.
The model then should be applied by all coaches. Such an approach does not exclude the possibility of expression of each individual coach. Within the system each individual has his/ her own place, and a coach, though his/her talent may attempt to enrich the system. Furthermore, a coach, through his/her abilities and skills should apply the system according to the club’s specific, the social and natural environment and athlete’s individual characteristics.
An important place in the creation and especially evaluation of a training system is occupied by the sports specialists and scientists. Through their research, with special emphasis on applied research, they could enrich training know how, improve methods of athlete evaluation, selection, and peaking; improve methods of recovery and regeneration following training, and increase knowledge of how to cope with stress.
The quality of a training system depends on direct and supportive factors. Although each link of the system has its important role, the utmost importance lies with the two branches of the direct factors; namely, training and the evaluation of training. The direct result of a high quality training system and programme should be high level of performance.
The quality of training does not depend on one single factor, the coach, but instead on many factors which quite often are not commanded by the coach, and which by any means could affect the athlete’s performance. Hence, all factors affecting the quality of training should be effectively utilized (i.e., information from auxiliary science) and constantly improved, such as facilities and abilities of the athletes involved in training.
It must be clearly understood that if any significant development is to be realized in the development of sports in Guyana, a comprehensive state of planning must be imitated at once involving the nations’ top sport administrators, coaches, sports specialists and the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sport.
The scope objectives of a system of training for athletics should be designed with the Olympics games (London 2010) as a medium term goal. Guyana has the athletic talent, both at home and aboard to make that transition.   Come on Mr. Sports Minister lets give it a shot, I am willing and ready to be a part of any such programme.
Athletics is the only discipline in Guyana that has an increasing functional potential athletically to make an Olympic Gold medal a reality in 2012.
Wayne Walcott
Athletic Coach

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